He's perhaps the most famous face in the campaign of Herman Cain (aside from Cain himself). Mark Block is the man who features in the wildly popular web video released by the Cain campaign that includes a moment where Block stares into the camera smoking. That decidedly unusual campaign ad has shot Cain to the top of the Republican pack in terms of web video clicks–nearly one million in the last week alone.

Why make that ad? And what's Block all about? He says he's known around the campaign as the guy who works hard, drinks coffee, and smokes. "Just Block being Block," he said.

A group of nearly one hundred members of the House of Representatives have signed a letter urging a deal on debt–proposing a cut of $4 trillion. Will more in Congress sign on? CNN's Erin Burnett sat down with Connecticut Democrat Jim Himes, who signed the letter. Himes says he's optimistic a deal can be done–though it must include "all options" including "mandatory and discretionary spending and revenues."

Will there be a double-dip recession? The latest figures on the growth of the U.S. economy in the third quarter–almost doubling–has sharply reduced fears of a return to recession. CNN's Erin Burnett joined Wolf Blitzer to discuss the economy and what it may mean for America's recovery.